Cottageville’s annual Kids and Cops carwash

For the fifth year in a row, Cottageville Police Department and the Cottageville Revitalization Committee have teamed together to host the Cottageville Kids and Cops Carwash on Saturday, August 12th. As cars, trucks, and vans drove by the Cottageville Express, they were greeted by flashing lights, children holding signs, and police officers volunteering their time to wash any vehicles that stopped by. Each year, the Kids and Cops Carwash is held as a back-to-school fundraiser for local children and the local elementary school. According to Cottageville Revitalization Committee spokeswoman, Yvonne Alvarado, “This is donations only. The children who participate in the carwash get their list of school supplies bought for them, providing we have enough money, and if we have a surplus, the officers hold it until mid-year and then give it to the school. We buy things like pencils, paper, tissue, and hand sanitizer, just everything the kids need off their list, as much as we can with the funds we collect.” For individuals who stopped by the carwash, they were able to donate any amount they wished to help with school supplies. Chief J.D. Cook and officers from the Cottageville Police Department volunteered their time by helping wash cars during the event. Children, varied in ages, who participated, could be seen running for soap and scrubbing down cars as they pulled in. Smiles could be seen throughout the event as all the participants worked to make the event an overall success for both the participants and the patrons. According to Chief Cook, this fundraiser means a lot to him and his officers as it gives them a sense of reassurance that they are helping local children, “There are a lot of children that don’t have a lot and you I know when I came up, we didn’t have a lot, and it’s a thing for us to know that children who may not have a lot will have something.” Chief Cook also said that this fundraiser really speaks to what he believes a being a public servant is about, “It is very important because this is a very poor side of the county and whatever we can help to give to the children, that’s what a public servant is supposed to do. Cops take a job to help kids out, that’s why I’m here.” By the end of the event, approximately 75 vehicles came through the carwash and the event raised a little over $500.00 for school supplies that they were going to buy that day, according to Chief Cook.